U.S. patent number 4,026,618 [Application Number 05/645,540] was granted by the patent office on 1977-05-31 for low profile electrical male plug.
Invention is credited to Robert J. Straka.
United States Patent |
4,026,618 |
Straka |
May 31, 1977 |
Low profile electrical male plug
Abstract
A low profile electrical plug to permit objects to be moved
close to the plug when mounted to a wall socket. The electrical
cord connection to the low profile plug may be rotated to any point
along a 360.degree. path.
Inventors: |
Straka; Robert J. (North
Riverside, IL) |
Family
ID: |
24589414 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/645,540 |
Filed: |
December 31, 1975 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
35/04 (20130101); H01R 39/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
39/00 (20060101); H01R 039/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/8R,8P,6R,195R,195A,196R,196A,5P,5R,5A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lake; Roy
Assistant Examiner: Jones; DeWalden W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dominik, Knechtel, Godula &
Demeur
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A low profile electrical plug having a rotatable selectively
positionable electric cord connection comprising
a prong plate having an insulating body member with a pair of
spaced electrical prongs on one side thereof and a prong conductor
coupled to each of said electrical prongs on the other side
thereof;
a rotatable electric cord plate having an insulating body
member;
said prong plate and said cord plate being proportioned to provide
a low profile electrical plug when pivotally secured together in a
sandwich-type relationship;
a spaced pair of outer and inner conductors on said prong plate and
a pair of outer and inner conductors on said cord plate which are
spaced and positioned to electrically and conductively contact the
respective outer and inner conductors on said prong plate when said
prong plate and said cord plate are secured together in sandwiched
relationship, said outer and inner conductors on said prong plate
and said cord plate being disposed with annular grooves in the
insulating body member and said outer and inner conductors on the
other one thereof being adapted to seat within said annular grooves
to establish electrical contact therewith, said outer and inner
conductors further being joined so as to provide continuous
electrical contact as said prong plate and said cord plate are
selectively rotated with respect to one another; and
electric cord conductors affixed to said cord plate and extending
radially therefrom so that said electric cord conductors rotate
with said cord plate, said electric cord conductors being
electrically coupled to the respective ones of said outer and inner
conductors on said cord plate.
2. A low profile electrical plug which includes the features of
Claim 1 wherein the rotatable electric cord plate includes a pair
of linear slits, the electrical conductors being seated in said
slits, one linear slit extending to one of the spaced conductor
points and the other linear slit extending to the other of the
spaced conductor points.
3. A low profile electrical plug which includes the features of
claim 1 and which further includes an outer bearing plate having a
bearing surface to slidingly contact a bearing surface on the back
of the rotatable electric cord plate, and said bearing plate being
joined to said pivot connection, whereby the rotatable electric
cord plate rotates between the prong plate and said bearing plate,
with an aligned central bore in each of the plates and said pivot
being a fastener extending through the aligned bores.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to electrical male plugs, and particularly
relates to low profile electrical plugs wherein the body extending
from the plug is of small dimension.
It has become desirable from a view of convenience to have
electrical plugs which closely hug the wall socket. Such plugs may
be designated as low profile plugs, and with such plugs it is
possible to position various objects, such as furniture, close to
the wall having the plug connection.
It is further desirable to make it more convenient to position the
location of the electrical cord which runs from the plug to an
electrical appliance, such as a lamp. Often the electrical
conductor must be turned around the plug because of the orientation
of the electrical appliance to such plug.
It will be appreciated that such a low profile, electric plug with
a selectively positionable electric cord must have adequate
conductor contacts and be free of complex structures and elements,
as well as not incurring expense in its manufacture.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a low profile
electrical plug with simple and reliable conductor contacts, which
plug closely adjoins the wall socket, and which electrical cord
connection advantageously extends from the plug close to the
wall.
Another important object of the invention is to provide a low
profile electrical plug having the foregoing features as well as
providing infinite selectivity and positioning of the electrical
cord along a 360.degree. path to conveniently align such electrical
plug to an electrical appliance.
DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The low profile electrical plug of the invention is ellustrated in
the accompanying drawings which comprise a portion of the
disclosure, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective of the low profile
electrical plug;
FIG. 2 is an elevational plan view along line 2--2 of FIG. 1, and
on an enlarged scale;
FIG. 3 is an elevational plan view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1,
and on an enlarged scale;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the assembled low profile
electrical plug, on a scale similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 3;
and
FIG. 5 is a largely sectional elevational view of the electrical
plug as illustrated in the view of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Looking at the drawings and at FIG. 1 particularly, there is seen
an insultating prong disk 6 having a central bore 7 and male prongs
8 fixed to the front side of the disk. Such disk is a form of a
plate having an insulating body member. A similar plate and
insulating body member 10 is shown in the form of a rotatable cord
disk, also having a central bore 11. Still another plate of an
insulating body member is shown in the form of a bearing disk 12,
having a central bore 13. The three bores are positioned to be
aligned when the disks of substantially uniform diameter are
assembled. A fastener, shown as screw 14 and nut 15, passes through
the aligned bores to hold the disk assembled, and to additionally
perform the function of a pivot.
The reverse side of the prong disk is provided with conductors,
shown as an outer annular conductor 16 which is formed as an
annular groove. A prong conductor 17 extends radially inwardly from
the outer annular conductor and contacts the prong 8. An inner
annular conductor 19 is also in the form of an annular groove, and
connected by a radially inwardly prong conductor 19 to contact the
other prong 8.
The rotatable cord disk has opposing conductors to conductively
contact the conductors in the prong plates 6 when the two plates
are assembled. Such conductors are also shown as being annular
conductors, although it may be otherwise. An outer annular
conductor is shown in the form of an annular ridge 22 with an
electric cord conductor 23 shown joined to said outer annular
conductor. Such electrical cord is provided with the usual
insulation sheath 24. An inner annular conductor is shown in the
form of an annular ridge 26. A longer, circuit completing electric
cord conductor 27 is joined to the inner annular ridge 26, and said
electric cord is also provided with the insulation sheath 28. An
insulating block 29 separates the electrical cord conductor 27 from
the outer annular ridge conductor 22.
A longer linear slit 30 is provided in the conductor face of the
rotatable disk 10 to seat the longer electrical cord conductor 27.
A similar linear slit 31 is provided to seat the shorter electrical
cord conductor 23. The linear slits empty into insulation sheath
recesses 32 in the conductor face of the rotatable disk, at the
circumferential edge. Such recesses accommodate beginning portions
of the insulating sheaths or covers 24, 28. The linear slits and
the insulation recesses allow the prong and rotatable disk to be
closely adjoined for efficient conductor contact and secure
assembly.
It is only required that one of the disks has a substantially
continuous conductor, and the other disk may have single conductor
contacts, Thus, the prong disk may have the continuous conductor
joined to the prong disks as shown, and the rotatable disk may have
contact points at the ends of conductors 23, 27. Such conductors
may pass through the body of disk 11, radially of from the back of
the disk.
USE AND OPERATION
The prong plate and the rotatable electric cord plate are adjoined
so that the opposing conductors contact one another. A pivot is
mounted, such as a fastener, and the rotatable disk plate is then
selectively rotated to any position in a 360.degree. path to most
conveniently orientate the electrical cord to an electrical
appliance. One of the plates has conductor contacts which engage
opposing substantially continuous conductors in the other plate to
form the conductive contact. A tongue and groove relationship may
be provided to more securely hold the assembly together. A bearing
plate is provided in which a smooth bearing surface is juxtaposed
to the back of the rotatable disk plate, which also presents a
smooth bearing surface. All three plates are secured by a pivot
fastener to permit rotation of the middle or rotatable disk while
the other disks remain stationary. A low profile electrical plug
results which is in close proximity to the wall outlet, and which
electric cord extends radially relative to the rotatable disk, thus
eliminating folding, twisting or other undesirable placements of
the electrical cord at its junction to the electrical plug.
It will also be appreciated that the prong plate could be provided
only with prong conductors, such as 17 and 19, which are
conductively contacted by the continuous or annular conductors on
the rotable disk. It will also be appreciated that conductors 23,
27 may be connected to countersunk screws joined by conducting
clips to the continuous conductors or they may be welded or formed
integrally with such conductors. Continuous conductors on the
rotatable disk can contact the prong conductors in any rotated
position. The annular form is preferred but it may be otherwise so
long as there is electrical contact in any rotated position.
The claims of the invention are now presented and the terms of such
claims may be further understood by reference to the language of
the preceding description and the views of the drawings.
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